Find out about the PLAN assessment program offered by American College Testing. This program helps determine your study habits and academic progress and interests; it will also prepare you for the ACT.

Review and revise your “4 year plan”

Continue meeting with your counselor each semester

Winter

Get familiar with general college entrance requirements

Spring/Summer

Explore potential careers; focus your volunteer work on a particular field of interest

Practice your writing skills to help prepare you for admissions testing and college entrance essays

Start looking at colleges of interest

Familiarize yourself with Common App (this is the new way to apply to colleges as you create a profile that consists of your GPA, test scores, essays, etc).

Give letter of recommendation forms to the teachers you have chosen, along with stamped, addressed envelopes so your teachers can send them directly to the colleges. Be sure to fill out your name and address and the school name on each form. Discuss your goals and ambitions with your teachers so they’ll be more prepared to write about you.

Set up appointments for site visits

Look into colleges with direct programs (if interested)

12Th Grade

Fall

Continue visiting schools

Retake ACT/SAT if needed/wanted

Meet with your guidance counselor, who usually sends out transcripts and score reports.

Complete applications

Continue your scholarship search.

Winter

Follow up on applications

Check with schools (most have an online system) to ensure they have received application, transcripts, test scores, and recommendations

Fill out FAFSA information for financial aid (can’t send forms until after January 1)

Send mid-year grade reports to colleges you’ve applied to

Spring/Summer

Find out which colleges you’ve been accepted to.

You should hear about admissions decision by March or April.

Compare financial aid packages and make your final decision

Notifications of financial aid awards should arrive by the end of April.